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Schumacher given 10-place grid penalty for Japanese GP; Webber also penalized

September 22, 2012

Michael Schumacher admitted a mistake that caused a crash on Sunday at Singapore. Photo by LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

Michael Schumacher has been given another 10-place grid penalty for the Japanese Grand Prix, following a spectacular collision with Jean-Eric Vergne in Singapore.

Schumacher admitted he had made a mistake, and the stewards took into account the fact that it was the second similar offense this season.

"It was obviously a very unfortunate ending to my race this evening when I ran into the car of Vergne, who accepted my apology straight afterwards," Schumacher said. "I am not totally sure why it happened like this. I was braking but the deceleration was not as strong as it usually would be, and I could not avoid running into the car in front of me. We have to find out what has happened. Up until then, I think it would have been possible to get some points this evening."

Earlier this year, an incident at Barcelona led to a penalty in Monaco, where the Mercedes driver was fastest in qualifying.

The penalty will cost the former champion dearly at Suzuka, one of his favorite tracks.

Mark Webber, meanwhile, lost a 10th-place finish in the Singapore GP after the FIA deemed that he gained an advantage by going off track while battling for position with Kamui Kobayashi.

The Aussie was given the post-race equivalent of a drive-through penalty, which was 20 seconds added to his race time. The penalty dropped him one place, to 11th. The Sauber team gained from the action, with the final point now going to Kobayashi's teammate, Sergio Perez.

The stewards said: “Notwithstanding that the distance by which car 2 left the circuit was minimal, advantage was gained hence a breach did in fact occur.”